Cody Rhodes Wins WWE Title Again But Something Has Changed
The celebration was supposed to be pure. After chasing championship gold for years, Cody Rhodes finally stood tall once more, defeating Drew McIntyre on the March 6 episode of SmackDown in Portland to reclaim the Undisputed WWE Championship. It marks his third reign with the title, a significant milestone in any career.
But instead of a heroes welcome, the victory was met with a wave of boos not from the live crowd, but from the online WWE Universe.
Rhodes’ journey to the top has been a story of perseverance. His initial win against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 was a cathartic moment for fans who had followed “The American Nightmare’s” story for years. He successfully defended that title, even losing it and winning it back against John Cena at SummerSlam 2025. But after dropping the belt to Drew McIntyre earlier this year in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match, and failing to secure a rematch at either the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber, things felt different.
When he finally got his shot and beat McIntyre with a little unexpected help from Jacob Fatu, the reaction online was swift and surprising.
Many fans have turned on the champion. The video of his title win posted on WWE’s YouTube channel has reportedly become the most disliked WWE video of 2026. Social media is flooded with comments that aren’t celebrating the three-time champion, but criticizing the decision.
So, what happened to the red-hot babyfire?
For some, it feels like the chase is better than the catch. The emotional investment in Rhodes’ first win was immense because it felt like the end of a saga. Now, with title reigns starting to stack up, the victories feel less monumental and more predictable to a portion of the audience. There is a growing sense that the well of goodwill might be running dry, and that the fans who once begged for him to “finish the story” are now ready for a new chapter with a different protagonist.
